2025-02-07 00:51:12
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The shadow in the hospital Echoes of Deceit
Outside the control room, the two officers stepped away from Walker, leaving him leaning weakly against the wall. The sheriff lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly, his brows furrowed in thought.“You buying his story?” the younger cop asked quietly, glancing back at Walker, who was slumped against the wall, staring blankly ahead.The sheriff took another drag, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t know yet,” he muttered, his tone heavy with doubt. “Something doesn’t add up, but…” He trailed off, watching Walker out of the corner of his eye.The younger officer folded his arms, lowering his voice. “Look at him. He’s a mess, but that doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth. That footage didn’t show any Elizabeth, and the nurses… they seem nervous, yeah, but they’re sticking to their story.”The sheriff tapped ash onto the floor, his eyes fixed on the hospital corridor. “Exactly. They’re nervous. Too nervous. Like they’re hiding something.” He turned to his partner, his expression grim. “But what if he r
The shadow in the hospital Through the Eyes of Lies
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. A young man in his forties walked in.The tension in the air thickened as Dr. Graham walked into the room, his confident strides and calm demeanor radiating professionalism. His sharp gray beard glistened under the fluorescent lights, and his eyes flickered briefly to the gathered nurses whispering at the corner. His expression darkened for just a second—just enough to catch the nurses’ attention but not the officers'.The nurses exchanged panicked glances and immediately dispersed, each of them retreating to separate tasks. Walker noticed their sudden movement and felt a flicker of hope. Did Dr. Graham suspect them too?Dr. Graham stretched out a firm hand to the sheriff. “Good day, officers,” he said with a warm smile. “I was informed that you wanted to see me. I’m Dr. Graham.”The sheriff shook his hand firmly. “Yes, Doctor. We’re trying to make sense of some things here.”Dr. Graham’s eyes settled on Walker, his expression softening. “And you mus
The shadow in the hospital The Last Thread of Sanity
Walker’s mind was a foggy battlefield, the fragments of his memory flashing like broken film reels. He gripped his head, trying to piece together what he knew. He remembered the accident—the screech of tires, the collapsing bridge, and Elizabeth’s scream as she called out, “Watch out for the bridge!”“Officer,” Walker said, his voice trembling. “My wife and I… we had an accident.”The sheriff, already irritated from their wasted time at the hospital, turned to him with a scowl. “What accident? What are you talking about now?”Walker’s memories flickered again, his voice trembling as he pointed toward the direction of the bridge. “Close to the bridge. At the end of the road.”The sheriff folded his arms, exchanging an exasperated glance with his younger partner. “This is ridiculous. We just spent hours chasing ghosts at the hospital, and now you’re telling us there’s an accident?”The younger cop smirked, leaning against the patrol car. “What next? UFOs?”Walker fumbled in his pocket a
The shadow in the hospital Beneath the White Coat
Walker slipped into the white overcoat, the fabric cool against his skin. It fit snugly—almost too perfectly—but as he glanced at himself in the reflection of a nearby window, he could see how the coat transformed him. For a brief moment, he looked the part of a doctor. But his heart hammered in his chest.Will they notice? Will they see through me?He adjusted the coat again, pulling the collar higher to obscure more of his face. His mind raced with doubts. If anyone caught him impersonating a doctor, it would all be over. The consequences would be dire—not just for him, but for Elizabeth.He took a step into the corridor, his breathing shallow. The first nurse appeared just ahead, pushing a cart laden with medical supplies. Walker’s stomach churned as she drew closer, her eyes casually scanning the hallway. His mind screamed at him to turn back, to avoid her.But running would draw attention.Just act normal. Keep moving.He lowered his head slightly, gripping the clipboard he had t
The shadow in the hospital The Nurse Who Wasn’t There
After she disappeared down the hallway, Walker emerged from the room like a shadow peeling away from the wall. He moved with deliberate caution, his breaths shallow, his heart pounding a rhythm he couldn’t control. Every step felt like walking a tightrope over a pit he couldn’t see.He knew he wasn’t wanted here. His instincts screamed at him to retreat, but the pull for answers was stronger than fear. Each step was calculated, his body pressed to the cold, sterile walls. He moved past the CCTV camera mounted near the ceiling, timing his pace to the slow sweep of its lens.The nurse turned a corner ahead, her white uniform disappearing as if swallowed by the fluorescent-lit corridor. Walker paused, pressing his back flat against the wall. He craned his neck to peek around the corner. The hallway was silent, stretching into sterile infinity. No footsteps, no rustling—only the faint hum of the overhead lights.She was gone.His pulse quickened. Had she heard him? Did she know he was fol
The shadow in the hospital The Silent Intruder
The control room was eerily quiet, save for the soft hum of the monitors. Two technicians sat hunched over their stations, sipping lukewarm coffee and scrolling through the countless feeds of the hospital's CCTV system. Most screens showed nothing unusual—empty hallways, closed doors, the occasional nurse moving briskly between rooms. But then, one of the technicians stiffened, his eyes narrowing at a particular screen."Hey, check this out," he said, nudging his colleague.“What?”“That guy.” He pointed at the screen, where a man in a white coat was moving through one of the restricted areas. Room 7C.The other technician squinted at the feed. The man’s movements were deliberate, his eyes darting around as though checking for something—or someone. He pressed his back against the wall at intervals, his posture tense, his head jerking quickly to avoid the cameras as he moved.“That’s… odd,” the second technician muttered, leaning closer. “Looks like he’s avoiding the cameras. Why woul
The shadow in the hospital The Silent Chase
The flat, seamless wall stared back at Walker, mocking him in its silence. He had pressed his hands against it, searching for seams, levers, or any sign of a hidden mechanism, but it refused to yield. The smooth surface was as cold and unyielding as stone. His breath came in shallow bursts, his mind racing.He had swiped the stolen premium card multiple times, angling it in every possible way, but nothing happened. No beep, no light, no movement. The wall remained indifferent, refusing him entry."This has to be it," Walker muttered under his breath, his voice taut with frustration. "Why won't it open?"He stepped back, running a hand through his hair as his eyes scanned the room again. There was nothing—no console, no panel, no sign that this was anything more than an ordinary wall. But he knew better. The nurse had vanished into it, disappearing as though the wall had swallowed her whole.The longer he stood there, the more his nerves began to fray. A thought crept into his mind, un
The shadow in the hospital The Hunt
Walker froze mid-step, his body going rigid as he heard the door to the room he had just left creak open behind him. His heart, already hammering against his ribs, seemed to stop for a second before thundering back to life. They had found him.His instincts screamed at him to run, but his mind raced with conflicting thoughts. He turned sharply, his eyes darting to the elevator ahead. Its metallic doors gleamed under the sterile fluorescent lights, a promise of quick escape—but also a potential death trap. The elevator was too slow. Too confined. If they caught him inside, there would be nowhere to hide, nowhere to fight.His gaze snapped to the stairwell door just a few feet away. His breathing hitched. It was an unknown risk, but one he could control—he hoped. He hesitated for a split second, weighing his options as the sound of boots echoed from behind.The decision was made for him when the door he had just exited burst open. A shadow moved in the periphery of his vision, and Walke
Latest Chapter
The Subtle Fortress
The rain had just stopped when Walker stepped off the train and into the quiet edge of the Bronx suburbs. Not the heart of New York—too loud, too watched. Here, people minded their business. And if they didn’t, he’d give them a reason to.He walked with a duffel bag over his shoulder, the only sound his boots slapping damp concrete. Three blocks in, he saw the apartment. Weathered brick. Ivy curling up the sides like it was trying to pull it back into the earth. Two floors. Back alley. Narrow front. It was perfect.A sign in the dusty window read: Room For Lease. No Pets. No Nonsense.He knocked once. Waited.The door opened a crack. One gray eye peered through. Then it opened wider.Old man. Mid-seventies. Flannel shirt, suspenders, the scent of wood shavings clinging to him like perfume.“You lost, son?” the man asked.Walker didn’t smile. “Looking to rent. Short term. You Greg?”The man nodded. “Might be.”“I’ll pay three months upfront. Quiet. No visitors. I just need space.”G
PENTHOUSE–FORTY-THIRD Floor
Penthouse, 2:17 A.M.Outside, Manhattan pulsed—wet streets, blinking signs, garbage trucks grinding somewhere far below. Inside, the hallway outside the main chamber felt like a mausoleum—quiet, cold, and waiting.Riven leaned against the wall, fidgeting with a lighter he didn’t know how to use. “You think he ever sleeps?”Dax didn’t look up from his phone. “The boss?”“No, Santa Claus.”Dax’s mouth twitched—almost a smile. “If you gotta ask, you’re not ready to meet him.”Riven glanced at the thick steel double doors ahead. “Think he’ll like me?”Dax finally looked over. “No.”Riven paused. “What if I brought donuts?”Now Dax did smile—barely. “He doesn’t eat sugar. Says it fogs the kill switch.”“What’s the kill switch?”Dax tapped his chest. “The moment you hesitate.”Before Riven could reply, the doors clicked open on their own. No creak. Just smooth, mechanical surrender.“Guess that’s our cue,” Dax said, already walking.Inside the Domain.It felt more like a fortress than a hom
The Day Of Departure
Paris, 5:26 a.m. – The Day of DepartureA gray hush hung over the apartment like a veil. Outside the window, the streets of Montparnasse were slick with rain, streetlamps still glowing, casting long yellow reflections across the pavement. Inside, the kitchen smelled of dark roast and quiet dread.Elizabeth stood barefoot by the stovetop, wrapped in one of Walker’s old cotton shirts—navy blue, frayed at the cuffs. She cradled a white mug in both hands, staring blankly at the French press slowly dripping behind her. The overhead light hummed, a faint contrast to the rhythmic patter of drizzle tapping the windowpanes.Walker entered the kitchen already dressed—charcoal jeans, black boots, and a fitted dark jacket zipped halfway. His duffel bag was slung over his right shoulder; a small black carry-on rolled behind him.“You’re early,” she said without turning.“I couldn’t sleep.”She reached for a second mug and poured. “You want one for the road?”He nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”They sipped
You will stay here tonight
A dusty taxi creaked to a halt by the side of an empty stretch of road. Jett stepped out first—broad shoulders wrapped in a black leather coat, hood drawn, his jaw clenched beneath a well-groomed beard. His mirrored sunglasses caught the glow of the streetlight, making him unreadable.Without a word, he circled to the other door, yanked it open, and dragged Anita out. She stumbled. Her face was veiled beneath a grey scarf, pulled tight. Her wrists were tense under his grip.The taxi disappeared into the fog. Another whizzed past, not even slowing when the driver caught a glimpse of the strange duo. Jett knew better than to head home. Surveillance was real. Patterns get you caught. And tonight, he wasn't just a hacker — he was judge, jury, maybe more.He hissed into Anita’s ear, the barrel of a pistol poking under her rib cage. “One sound, and I turn your insides into fog. Got it?”She nodded slowly, eyes wet, throat stiff.When a second cab finally pulled over, Jett shoved her inside
Walker's Next Move
Paris, 2:47 a.m. The yellow nightlight near the crib cast a soft oval glow across the cream-colored walls. Outside, a light drizzle tapped the glass window rhythmically. But Walker lay wide awake, his back pressed flat against their queen-sized bed, arms folded behind his head. His eyes had been locked on the ceiling for hours. He didn’t move until he heard the soft snore from Elizabeth—steady, shallow. Then, slowly, carefully, he turned and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. “Lizzy…” His voice barely escaped his lips. She groaned softly and stirred under the weight of the duvet, one leg peeking out. “Mm?” “I need to talk to you.” She rolled to face him, her long hair spilling onto the pillow. Her voice cracked with sleep. “Now?” “I can’t keep it in anymore.” Elizabeth sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes with both hands. “Alright. Talk.” Walker inhaled sharply. “I think it’s time we move back to the US.” Elizabeth blinked at him, confused. “What?” “I’m serious.” Sh
Anita the Stripper
The stripper hit the floor hard, stunned. Her mouth opened to scream—but Jett was faster. He clamped his hand over her lips and shoved her against the wall.“Where is she?” he growled. “The one with the yellow short hair. Lip piercing. Tribal mark. The one who sold me out.”She gasped, struggling under his grip. “I—I don’t know who you mean—”Wrong answer.Jett’s grip tightened around her throat. Her eyes bulged, bloodshot and watering. Her heels scraped against the floor. He leaned in, voice colder than steel.“When you get to hell, tell them I send my regards.”He released her. She collapsed, coughing, trying to breathe—but Jett wasn’t done.He drew the pistol, cold and black, and pressed the barrel to her lips. Slowly. Deliberately.“Talk. Or I blow your teeth through the back of your skull.”Her eyes filled with panic. She coughed, choked, shook her head. “I—I can’t…”He shoved the barrel deeper.“You will.”Finally, she broke.“Anita,” she wheezed. “Her name is Anita.”“Where?”“
Jett’s next move
Jett could finally rest now. Ramirez—the man he was assigned to watch like a hound on a scent—was locked up. Prison steel swallowed his old target. Jett wasn’t bitter anymore. Not exactly. If he hadn’t heard about how Ramirez’s wife and kid were kidnapped, he would’ve thought Ramirez had sold him out. But Jett knew betrayal. This wasn’t it.He had a new life now. One with the possibility of something like peace. Marriage? Maybe. But he knew how his world worked. People he crossed through his dark trade—hacking, digital theft, surveillance—if they couldn’t reach him, they'd go after the ones he loved. Just like Ramirez.That’s why he never married.That’s why tonight he carried a pistol in his back pocket and a black ski mask folded tight inside his duffel. It was 8 p.m. The club would be starting to heat up. If he waited too late, she’d be gone—dancing on another pole, working another poor bastard.She. The stripper who sold him out.Tonight, she dies.Jett covered the hole behind him
Lizzy, Pasta & The Snake-Bitten Husband
Elizabeth stood frozen in the middle of the hallway, one eye on her baby monitor and another on her phone screen. Her thumb hovered over the call button. There was only one person she could call right now. Someone who always had an annoying answer but always showed up when it mattered—Svet.She dialed.It rang once.Twice.Nothing.“What?!” she gasped out loud, glaring at her phone like it just cheated in Monopoly. “Svet NEVER ignores my calls. That man picks faster than Google Search!”She stomped to her room, still in her house robe—a faded pink monstrosity with “Best Wife Ever” peeling off the front. Her hair was in a bun so messy it looked like a raccoon had made a nest and abandoned it mid-morning. Inside the room, little Seth, her twelve-month-old heartthrob, was babbling to himself, a plush toy of a yellow duck clutched in one chubby hand.He was mumbling gibberish with a sense of purpose, like he was explaining blockchain to the duck.“Ba ba goo…noo noo waba…”Elizabeth stared
You’re using criminals to catch cops now?
Ramirez crept forward on aching elbows, the metal biting into his skin with every inch he advanced. The stale air of the ventilation shaft was thick with grime and rust, the silence broken only by the faint groans of the prison’s ancient structure. His heart pounded in his ears as he reached a long shaft stretching over the highest-security wing—the place they called The Pit.This has to be it, he thought. Javier Montoya’s cage.But as he crawled closer, his gut twisted.The shaft above this particular section wasn't like the others. It was reinforced with iron bars, thick and welded to an inner frame—an iron lattice designed to block even the smallest object from falling through. Someone had gone to great lengths to seal this section off from above. Not because of an escape risk—but because of rescue attempts. They had sealed it like a vault.They knew his men might try this. They thought of everything.Ramirez pressed his face to the narrowest gap in the ironwork. He couldn’t see mu
